Slate.



PATENTED MAR. 24, '1903.

' f6.3. TOMPKINS.

sLATE.

:APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1902.

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' UN'rTi-:D STATES;

-ATENT FFICE.

CAROLINE BARD TOMPKINS, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

SLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 723,340, dated March 24, 1903. I Y Application filed May 9, 1902. Serial No. 106,557. (No model.) i

.To a/ZZ whom it mayconccrn;

KINs,a citizen of the United States of America,

respond with the undercut grooved edgesof residing at Jersey City, in the county ofHud-` son and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Slates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a school-slate especially adapted fora-young pupils as well as for:

the blind.

The slate preferably has a black su rface on one side and a white surface on the other side. The frame of the slate is made "with recessed receptaelesfor holding articles used4 in connection with a slate-such as pencils,l

pens, penholders,x&c..-and these recessed receptacles are made with undercut grooved edges for slidin g covers whose side edges corthe receptacles, so that the surfaces of the covers are flush with the faces ofthe slate-` frame. Upon the exposed surfaces of the sliding covers I apply the letters of the alpha` opposite edges of the side members of the'4 slate-frame. The straight-edge or ruler carries a strip of sponge, chamois, or other suitable material forming an eraser or slatecleaner. There is also attached to the straight-edge or ruler at its center a pencil- Sharpener. On one side of the slate-frame are preferably provided cornerbuifers or pads.

VIn thedrawings, Figure I is a plan view of one side of the slate with two of the sliding covers partly withdrawn. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the opposite side of the slate. Fig; 3 is a longitudinal section at the line a of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section atthe line y y of Fig. l.

The slate a preferably has onesurface black t for the use of slate-pencils and the othersur-v face white for the use of lead-pencils. The

slate is held by a frame composed of four members b bf b2 b3. A In the members of the frame areiprovidedrecessed receptacles c for such articles as pencils, pens, penholders, &c. and the recessed receptacles in the side memvdown over the surface of the slate o..

bers are longer than those in the end members of the frame, but are all of approximately the same depth. These recessed receptacles are preferably all in one surface of the frame. These recessed receptacles c are made with undercut grooved edges-to receive 4 the sliding covers e e e2 e3, whose side edges correspond thereto, so that the surfaces of the covers are flush with the face of the slateframe. These covers are preferably made of wood, but may be made of hard rubber, celluloid, metal, or any desired material. The letters, gures, or characters upon the surfaces of thesliding covers e e' e2 are conveniently placed for pupils to study and to copy uponY the slate, either singly or in groups forming words or numbers. These letters, figures, or characters are preferably raised or in relief, which permits of their shape be- ,ing followed by the touch of the fingers of piu, so that they cannot become accidentally detached, but may be moved around the dial by hand in learning to tell time. The dial is 'preferably provided with an upturned rim or t annular flange 3 to prevent injuryl to the hands.

Corner buers or pads h are preferably secured to the slate-frame upon the side opposite to that having the covers. These pads are of any shape or thickness desired, and serve both as pen-wipers and to prevent the `slate marking the desk or making a noise when laid down on the desk.

In the inner opposite edges of the frame members b b' there are longitudinal grooves it', which receive the ends 2 2 of a straightedge or rulerk, and in which grooves the straight-edge or ruler k may be slid up and The grooves't' i are Lcut in the frame members slightly above the surface of the slate, so that the straight-edge or ruler will not scratch the slate While being passed up and down in the grooves, but at the same time it will be IOO suiciently near the surface of the slate, so that true and parallel lines may be drawn thereon. The end portions 2 2 of the straightedge or ruler which slide in the grooves M may be made narrower than that portion of the straight-,edge or ruler which passes over the slate, such wider portion having a folded or bent-over portion Z, as shown in the sec` tion, Fig. 3, for the purpose of holding a piece of sponge, chamois, or other suitable material m for erasing pencil-marks or cleaning the slate as the straight-edge or ruler Zo is slid down in the grooves t' t', thus leaving a clean surface above it tor writing or drawing. It will be noticed that the eraser can be kept from touching the surface of the slate as the straight-edge or ruler is slid up or down in the grooves, if desired, by simply lifting it slightly. I prefer to make the straight-edge or ruler 7c of metal having suftieient strength and spring to prevent its being easily bent out of shape and to retain it within the grooves in a line parallel with the top and bottom members of the frame. I also prefer that its surface be provided with graduated marks. I also prefer to attach to the straight-edge or ruler 7c at its center by suitable means a pencil-Sharpener n, which also serves the purpose of a handle for sliding the straight-edge or ruler up or down in the grooves t t', and further forms a convenient holder for a pencil.

I claim as my inventionl. A slate having a frame with longitudinal grooves in the inner opposite edges of two of the frame members, a straight-edge or ruler having its ends fitted within and adapted to slide in said grooves, and a slate-cleaner attached to and carried by said straight-edge or ruler, substantially as speeied.

4 2. A slate having a frame with longitudinal grooves in the inner opposite edges of two of the frame members, a straight-edge or ruler having its ends fitted within and adapted to slide in said grooves, said end portions being narrower in width than the other part of the straight-edge or ruler, such wider portion being folded over longitudinally on one edge with a strip of soft material clamped between the fold forming a slate-clean er, substantially as specified.

3. A slate having a frame with longitudinal grooves in the inner opposite edges ot two members of the frame, a straight-edge or ruler having its ends within said grooves, a slatecleaner attached to and carried by said straight-edge or ruler, and a pencil-Sharpener fastened to the straight-edge at its center, substantially as speciiied.

et. A slate having a frame with recessed receptacles in the several members of the frame having undercut grooved edges, sliding covers for such receptacles whose side edges correspond to the said undercut grooved edges, so that the covers are flush with the slateframe, two members of the frame each having a longitudinal groove in the inner edge, a straight-edge or ruler with its ends within and adapted to slide in said grooves, and a slate-cleaner attached to and carried by said straight-edge or ruler, substantially as specitied.

5. A slate havinga frame with recessed receptacles in the several members of the frame 'having undercut grooved edges, sliding covers for such receptacles whose side edges correspond to the said undercut grooved'edges, so that the covers are flush with the slateframe, two members of the frame each having a longitudinal groove in its inner edge, a straight-edge or ruler with its ends within and adapted to slide in said grooves, said end portions being narrower in width than the other part of the straight-edge or ruler, such wider portion being folded over longitudinally on one edge with a strip of soft material clamped between the fold forming a slate-cleaner, substantially as specified.

Signed by me this '7th day of May, 1902.

CAROLINE BARD TOMPKINS.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, BERTHA M. ALLEN. 

